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What parents need to know

Positive messages

Many songs are about things like making mistakes in relationships and seeking forgiveness for them. References to the importance of being able to make the distinction between love and sex: "I wanna live with no regrets/And walk the fine line between love and sex."

Violence

Lyrics like "She moved her body like a butcher knife/Chopping up every guy in sight."

Sex

Sex is alluded to in lyrics like "Show me how to play/Cause I can see you and me/Going all the way," "I don't even care what you're after/As long as you keep going faster," "Do do do you wanna be on top/Or on the ba ba bottom don't make me stop," and "That girl/She made me come inside."

Language

Not applicable

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Not applicable

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this album is from the band behind the popular 2007 hit single "Hey There Delilah." Most of the songs are about various mistakes made in relationships, and although some of the allusions to sex are stronger here than in their previous album, Every Second Counts, overall the lyrics are age-appropriate for older tweens and up. Plus, none of the songs have hostile themes, and there's no strong language.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's the story?

BIG BAD WORLD is a definite throwback to the sounds of '50s and '60s rock and roll. There are a few ballads on the 10-track album (\"Rainy Day\" and \"Someday\"), but the rest of it is upbeat and peppy -- almost too much so.

A monster hit like 2007's \"Hey There Delilah\" is a hard act to follow, and on Big Bad World, the Plain White T's stay away from replicating too much of their earlier acoustic sound. Only one song, \"1, 2, 3, 4\" uses a similar formula -- and, just like its predecessor, its sweet lyrics are bound to make teenage girls' hearts swell.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Avoiding the sound that skyrocketed the group to fame seems like a very conscious decision; it's almost as if the band is trying just a little too hard to bring listeners something completely different. As a result, the album feels unfocused, with over-mixing of genres and lyrics verging on saccharine, especially on tracks like "Meet Me in California."

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about how having a big hit single can affect a band further down the line. Do you think musicians have any obligation to their fans to produce more of the kind of work that made them popular? And how does a band's life change (for better or worse) once they're launched to almost-overnight star status? Families can also discuss the album's relationship themes. What are some of the common mistakes that people tend to make in relationships? Can they be avoided?

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When you use our links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, these funds help us continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. Thank you for your support.Read more

big bad world

saccharine, especially on tracks like "Meet Me in California." Families can talk about how having a big hit single can affect a band further down the line. Do you think musicians have any obligation to their fans to produce more of the kind of work that made them popular? And how does a band's life change (for better or worse) once they're launched to almost-overnight star status? Families can also discuss the album's relationship themes. What are some of the common mistakes that people tend to make in relationships? Can they be avoided?

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